FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Frontiers in veterinary science2018; 5; 120; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00120

International Survey Regarding the Use of Rehabilitation Modalities in Horses.

Abstract: To define which biologic, electrophysical and other modalities are used in horses for injury or performance issues, a questionnaire regarding 38 modalities was distributed to eight veterinary groups. A total of 305 complete or partial responses were obtained from over 10 geographic regions; 75.4% from private equine practice or regional private equine referral hospitals, 14.1% from university teaching hospitals or satellite clinics, 8.2% from private mixed animal practice, and 2.3% from veterinary rehabilitation centers. The majority of respondents were located in the USA (60%), Europe (25.6%), and Canada (5.6%). Respondents reported working with athletic horses primarily in the disciplines of hunter-jumper (26.9%), dressage (16.0%), and pleasure riding (14.7%), followed by Western riding, track racing, and eventing. Warmbloods (39.7%) were the predominant breed presenting to respondents, followed by Thoroughbreds (20.3%) and Quarter Horses (17.3%) ahead of other breeds. All 38 modalities were used by respondents. The 10 most prominently utilized were controlled hand walking (97.3%), therapeutic shoeing (96.1%), ice (95.2%), compression bandaging (89.5%), platelet rich plasma (PRP; 86.5%), therapeutic exercises (84.3%), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein therapy (IRAP; 81.4%), stretching (83.3%), and cold water hydrotherapy (82.9%). Heat (77.6%), massage (69.0%), and acupuncture (68.3%) were also commonly utilized. The least prominently used modalities were hyperbaric oxygen therapy (9.4%), cytowave (8.3%), and radiofrequency (6.4%). Injectable modalities (IRAP, PRP, mesotherapy, stem cells) were almost solely administered by veterinarians; other modalities were variably applied by veterinarians, technicians, veterinary assistants, farriers, physical therapists, trainers, and other entities. A total of 33% of respondents reported working collaboratively with physical therapists on equine patients. Findings indicate that a broad range of invasive and non-invasive modalities are used in equine patients to address a variety of rehabilitation and performance needs, and that personnel with varying levels of expertise are involved in their administration. This suggests that further investigation to better define the delivery, efficacy and any negative effects of many of these modalities is important.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2018-06-11 PubMed ID: 29942811PubMed Central: PMC6004390DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00120Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates the variety of rehabilitation methods employed in horses across different veterinary groups and geographies, using a questionnaire addressing 38 known modalities. It found a broad spectrum of both invasive and non-invasive techniques used to address rehabilitation and performance needs. The study implies a need for further investigation into the efficient delivery and efficacy of these modalities.

Survey Details and Demographics

  • The survey was distributed to eight different veterinary groups to assess which bioelectric, physical and other rehabilitation techniques they use on horses with injuries or performance issues.
  • The survey received 305 complete or partial responses from over ten regions. The majority of respondents (75.4%) were from private equestrian practice or regional private equine referral hospitals.
  • The geographic locations of the respondents were mainly from USA (60%), Europe (25.6%), and Canada (5.6%).
  • Respondents predominantly treated athletic horses, with Warmbloods being the most common breed, followed by Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses.

Most Commonly Used Modalities

  • The most commonly employed rehabilitation modalities were controlled hand walking, therapeutic shoeing, icing, compression bandaging, platelet rich plasma therapy, therapeutic exercises, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein therapy, stretching and cold water hydrotherapy.
  • Other frequently used modalities were heat, massage, and acupuncture therapies.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cytowave, and radiofrequency were the least utilized modalities.

Administration of Modalities

  • Injectable modalities such as interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein therapy, platelet rich plasma therapy, mesotherapy, and stem cells were exclusively administered by veterinarians.
  • Other modalities were applied by a variety of individuals including veterinarians, technicians, veterinary assistants, farriers, physical therapists, trainers, and other personnel.
  • It was found that one-third of respondents worked collaboratively with physical therapists in treating equine patients.

Implications for Practice

  • The study illustrates the complexity and range of rehabilitation modalities applied in equine veterinary practice, informing both veterinarian selection and patient treatment options.
  • The results of the survey suggest a need for more detailed research into the application, effectiveness, and potential negative effects of the various modalities.

Cite This Article

APA
Wilson JM, McKenzie E, Duesterdieck-Zellmer K. (2018). International Survey Regarding the Use of Rehabilitation Modalities in Horses. Front Vet Sci, 5, 120. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00120

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 5
Pages: 120

Researcher Affiliations

Wilson, Janine M
  • Oregon Equine, Damascus, OR, United States.
McKenzie, Erica
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States.
Duesterdieck-Zellmer, Katja
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States.

References

This article includes 28 references
  1. Kaneps AJ. Practical rehabilitation and physical therapy for the general equine practitioner. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2016) 32:167–80.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.001pubmed: 26898959google scholar: lookup
  2. King MR, Davidson EJ. Innovations in equine physical therapy and rehabilitation. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2016) 32:xiii–xiv.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2016.02.001pubmed: 27012510google scholar: lookup
  3. Bergh A. Physical treatment of the equine athlete. In: Hinchcliff KW, Kaneps AJ, Geor RJ. editors. Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Edn. China: Saunders Elsevier; (2014). p. 1231–41.
  4. McGowan CM, Cottriall S. Introduction to equine physical therapy and rehabilitation. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2016) 32:1–12.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.006pubmed: 26906262google scholar: lookup
  5. Memon MA, Shmalberg J, Adair HS, Allweiler S, Bryan JN, Cantwell S. Integrative veterinary medical education and consensus guidelines for an integrative veterinary medicine curriculum within veterinary colleges. Open Vet J (2016) 6:44–56.
    doi: 10.4314/ovj.v6i1.7pmc: PMC4824037pubmed: 27200270google scholar: lookup
  6. Porter M. Equine rehabilitation therapy for joint disease. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2005) 21:599–607.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2005.08.002pubmed: 16297723google scholar: lookup
  7. Buchner HH, Schildboeck U. Physiotherapy applied to the horse: a review. Equine Vet J (2006) 38:574–80.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406X153247pubmed: 17124850google scholar: lookup
  8. Gillis C. Soft tissue injuries: tendinitis and desmitis. In: Hinchcliff KW, Kaneps AJ, Geor RJ. editors. Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery, 2nd Edn. China: Saunders Elsevier; (2014). p. 399–418.
  9. Schlachter C, Lewis C. Electrophysical therapies for the equine athlete. veterinary clinics of north america: equine practice rehabilitation of the equine athlete. Elsevier (2016) 32:127–47.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.011pubmed: 27012509google scholar: lookup
  10. Broeckx S, Zimmerman M, Crocetti S, Suls M, Mariën T, Ferguson SJ. Regenerative therapies for equine degenerative joint disease: a preliminary study. PLoS ONE (2014) 9:e85917.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085917pmc: PMC3896436pubmed: 24465787google scholar: lookup
  11. Massimo M, Gatti A, Maggiori S, Alessandro S. Role of mesotherapy in musculoskeletal pain. opinions from the Italian society of mesotherapy. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med (2012) 2012:436959.
    doi: 10.1155/2012/436959pmc: PMC3359685pubmed: 22654954google scholar: lookup
  12. Haussler KK. Review of manual therapy techniques in equine practice. J Equine Vet Sci (2009) 29:849–69.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2009.10.018google scholar: lookup
  13. Haussler K. Joint Mobilization and manipulation for the equine athlete. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2016) 32:87–101.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.003pubmed: 27012508google scholar: lookup
  14. le Jeune S, Henneman K, May K. Acupuncture and equine rehabilitation. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2016) 32:73–85.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.004pubmed: 26906261google scholar: lookup
  15. Parks A. Therapeutic farriery. one veterinarian's perspective. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2012) 28:333–50.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2012.05.003pubmed: 22981193google scholar: lookup
  16. Baker WRJr. Treating laminitis: beyond the mechanics of trimming and shoeing. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2012) 28:441–55.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2012.05.004pubmed: 22981200google scholar: lookup
  17. Moyer W, O'Grady SE, Werner HW. The equine practitioner-farrier relationship: building a partnership. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2012) 28:117–29.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2012.03.003pubmed: 22640583google scholar: lookup
  18. Ferris DJ, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW, Kawcak CE. Current joint therapy usage in equine practice: a survey of veterinarians 2009. Equine Vet J (2011) 43:530–5.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00324.xpubmed: 21668486google scholar: lookup
  19. Hraha TH, Doremus KM, McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD. Autologous conditioned serum: the comparative cytokine profiles of two commercial methods (IRAP and IRAP II) using equine blood. Equine Vet J (2011) 43:516–21.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00321.xpubmed: 21496084google scholar: lookup
  20. Geburek F, Lietzau M, Beineke A, Rohn K, Stadler PM. Effect of a single injection of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) on tendon healing in equine naturally occurring tendinopathies. Stem Cell Res Ther (2015) 6:126.
    doi: 10.1186/s13287-015-0115-0pmc: PMC4513386pubmed: 26113022google scholar: lookup
  21. McIlwraith CW, Wright I, Nixon AJ. Post-operative management, adjunctive therapies and rehabilitation procedures. In: Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse, 4th Edition. China: Mosby Ltd; (2014). p. 444.
  22. Textor J. Autologous biologic treatment for equine musculoskeletal injuries: platelet-rich plasma and IL-1 receptor antagonist protein. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract (2011) 27:275–98.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2011.05.001pubmed: 21872759google scholar: lookup
  23. Romero A, Barrachina L, Ranera B, Remacha AR, Moreno B, de Blas I. Comparison of autologous bone marrow and adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells, and platelet rich plasma, for treating surgically induced lesions of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon. Vet J (2017) 224:76–84.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.04.005pubmed: 28697880google scholar: lookup
  24. Macejko C. State Boards Wage War on Lay Persons Practicing Veterinary Medicine. 01:2008 By DVM360 MAGAZINE (2008). Available online at: http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/state-boards-wage-war-lay-persons-practicing-veterinary-medicine.
  25. Memon MA, Sprunger LK. Survey of colleges and schools of veterinary medicine regarding education in complementary and alternative veterinary medicine. J Am Vet Med Assoc (2011) 239:619–23.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.239.5.619pubmed: 21879961google scholar: lookup
  26. Koch TG, Berg LC, Betts DH. Concepts for the clinical use of stem cells in equine medicine. Can Vet J (2008) 49:1009–17.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.03.011pmc: PMC2553494pubmed: 19119371google scholar: lookup
  27. Montgomery L, Elliott SB, Adair HS. Muscle and tendon heating rates with therapeutic ultrasound in horses. Vet Surg (2013) 42:243–9.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2013.01099.xpubmed: 23373839google scholar: lookup
  28. Duesterdieck-Zellmer KF, Larson MK, Plant TK, Sundholm-Tepper A, Payton ME. Ex vivo penetration of low-level laser light through equine skin and flexor tendons. Am J Vet Res (2016) 77:991–9.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.77.9.991pubmed: 27580111google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 18 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,727 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.